Back when you were a young child, did your Mum ever make you warm milk to help you fall back asleep? Well, if she did, she was using the magic of Moon Milk to help induce sleep. Dairy milk naturally contains the amino acid tryptophan, which when consumed warm, can induce sleep and calm the nervous system. For centuries, milk has been used as a natural sleeping aid, and lately its trending as the cool new way to drift off the a deep, restful night's sleep.
Have you ever heard of it? Moon Milk is a warm beverage traditionally used in Ayurveda practices where cow's milk was simmered with a blend of honey, ashwagandha, nutmeg, and other Indian spices. It was used as a common remedy for insomnia, restlessness or as part of one's every day bedtime routine. The anti-inflammatory properties of the drink were thought to help to build the body’s defences against stress, burnout and exhaustion. In today's busy world, its a most welcome trend to dive into.
Due Moon Milk's recent surge in popularity, there are literally countless of variations of the drink to try and experiment with using dairy or plantabsed milks. I am completely dairy-free so I tend to use coconut or almond milk as I find they both have the best flavour and help lull me into slumber better than soy or cashew.
What Goes In Moon Milk?
A quick scroll on Instagram and you’ll be surprised to find over 13,573 posts with the hashtag #moonmilk displaying recipes of all blends and dreamy colour palettes. This shows you that there is no right or wrong way to make Moon Milk, but rather a basic recipe that can easily be experimented with to find what suits you best.
Typically, Moon Milk is made with dairy milk, either cow or goat, but with so many people going vegan, plant-based milks have been substituted and make just as nice a beverage. The milk is then simmered with the addition of warming spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and turmeric to provide healing properties that relax both the mind and body.
In some recipes, adaptogen herbs such as ashwagandha, astragalus and ginseng are also used and prove highly beneficial. A scoop of ghee or coconut oil, and drizzle of raw organic honey are often added.
And of course, who could forget the pièce de résistance ingredient, edible petals and flowers! These almost always make it into my recipes and are such a beautiful way to calm and wind down at the end of the day. I often use flowers and petals to add pizzazz to my herbal teas or salads but love adding a few sprinklings of petals over Moon Milk.
Moon Milk Is The Ultimate In Self-Care
Sleep is vital to our well-being especially as women. The more we can do to ensure a night of deep, rejuvenating rest, the better. Adding Moon Milk to your bedtime routine is a loving way to give yourself the best beauty sleep.
By now, you may be itching to make your own Moon Milk, so here is a round-up of simply gorgeous recipes to help you unwind after a long day and slip into a dreamy slumber. Tell me which one is your favourite pick to try in the comments.
#1 - Lavender Moon Milk
When I stumbled across this little deliciousness I veered off and came up with my own recipe. A while back, I had a packet of Macro's Lavender Latte on the bench for those sticky arvos when my five kids are doing my head in, and thought I'd try it in my Moon Milk the other night. It works a treat on stress, so why not for sleep, and I wasn't disappointed either. I did have the most mazing slumber that night and have used it many other nights since.
The recipe I use couldn't be more easy, just warm a cuppa of your choice of milk (I use coconut for this in a bug mug), a teaspoon of Lavender Latte powder and drizzle of organic, raw honey. Stir well and sit back with the goodness. If you are lucky enough to have a garden with fresh lavender growing (and its organic), tear a few sprigs off and drop the flowers in the milk while it simmers. This'll infuse your drink with fragrance and more flavour.
As I stated above there is no right or wrong way to make traditional Ayurvedic Moon Milk, so tuck into these 3 delicious recipes by Cheryl of 40 Aprons fame. Seriously, these are not only beautiful fragranced and flavoured but just as wonderful look at while you relax feet up with your fluffy slippers and in your PJs.
Enjoy hints of cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, lavender and tart cherry in these recipes and mix it up each night with a new flavour. My favourite by far from this trio is the Lavender Milk made a little extra special with the addition of ashwaghanda and astralagus.
#5 - Rosehip Flower Infused Moon Milk
This moon milk recipe is based on vitamin-C rich rosehip flowers and raspberry leaf to give it a little something unique (and beautifully tasty). Rosehip is a popular European tea beverage, and I have to say trying it blended into a moon milk blend is a stroke of culinary genius.
The the lesser known part of the rose is the round, seed-filled bulbs known as "rose hips", which are found underneath rose petals. Inside the each pod-like hip are many small, edible seeds, which are super rich in nutrients and disease-fighting properties. If you scout health food stores you can find the dried hips, but I often use rosehip tea like this one for this recipe.
This moon milk is a personal favourite of mine, and such a beautifully nutritious recipe made with oxygenating beetroot, calming rose water, the de stress adaptogen, ashwagandha, and tart cherry to promote sleep. A natural powerhouse of calming properties will make this a fast favourite.
For centuries, Lavender has been recommended as a natural sleep remedy for those suffering from sleeplessness, chronic insomnia and anxiety-related sleep disorders. I love using it to help de stress at the end of the day and reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone. Either way, this recipe is a lovely self-care treat before bed.
#10- Sweet Dreams Blue Moon Milk
In sharing these natural sleep remedies, I hope you've found a few you'll add to your nighttime routine. Slowing things down and unwinding with a warm cuppa is also a lovely way to practice a little self-care at the same time. Check out my Pinterest boards where you'll find a heap more: click here
Healthy + happiness,
Emma
xox
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